Faces come in many distinct shapes and sizes. The appearance of your face can be influenced by many factors including genes, diet and fitness levels. If you feel your face is rounder or more chubby than you would like, performing facial exercises on a regular basis can help to strengthen the facial muscles for a more toned and firm appearance.
Facial Yoga
Facial yoga expert Annelise Hagen recommends an exercise she calls "satchmo" to firm and tone the cheeks. Fill both cheeks with air and move the air from one side of your mouth to the other, while forcing the air against the side of your cheeks. Hold your breath while performing the exercise and continue until your breathe runs out. Repeat three times.
Hagen also advocates the "smiling fish face" exercise to tone the cheeks. Smile with your lips tightly pursed. At the same time, draw your cheeks into the hollows of your face. Repeat five times daily for maximum benefits.
Facercise
Carole Maggio, producer of the Facercise program, recommends an exercise she calls the "face slimmer" to lift and tone a wide face. You can perform this exercise in a lying or sitting position, although Maggio recommends lying down as she claims the pull of gravity can help maximize results. Open your mouth and roll your lips over your lower and upper teeth. Pull your mouth corners toward your back teeth with moderate force. Place your hands on the side of your jaw, and slowly move them up to the top of your head, all the while visualizing your face lifting. Build a mind-muscle connection and see the sides of your face moving upwards and outwards, past your jawline to the top of your scalp. Look upwards while performing the exercise. Continue doing this until you feel the muscle burn on the sides of your face. When this occurs, keep your hands at the top of your head while counting to 30. Relax and blow air out through your lips. Maggio suggests performing the face slimmer exercise twice a day if your face is very heavy and full.
References
- Daily Mail: Facial Yoga
- "Carole Maggio Facercise"; Carole Maggio; 2002
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